1942 Rose Bowl

The 1942 Rose Bowl was a historic college football game played on January 1, 1942. It is notable for being the only Rose Bowl game played outside of Pasadena, California, until 2021. The game was moved to Duke Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, due to safety concerns following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

✦ Background

In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, there were fears of further attacks on the West Coast, leading the federal government to restrict large public gatherings. This directly impacted the Rose Bowl game. Duke University stepped in to host the game, as their team had also received a bid.

✦ 1942 Rose Bowl Matchup

The game featured the Oregon State Beavers from the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) and the Duke Blue Devils from the Southern Conference. Duke was heavily favored, entering the game with a 9-0 record. Oregon State, coached by Lon Stiner, had a 7-2 record and were underdogs.

✦ Game Highlights

The game was closely contested and considered an upset victory for Oregon State, who defeated the Duke Blue Devils 20-16. Oregon State's Donald Durdan was named the MVP.

The game saw a back-and-forth scoring affair, with Oregon State making key plays to secure the win. Notably, Oregon State's Gene Gray caught agame-winning pass from quarterback Bob Dethman.

✦ Significance

The 1942 Rose Bowl remains a unique event in college football history. Played against the backdrop of World War II, the game symbolized the nation's resilience and the continuation of American traditions even in times of crisis.